Death of youth swimming in an old quarry next to Lake Pupuke

At about 2.40pm yesterday afternoon a 16 year old youth who was part of a youth program was swimming in an old quarry next to Lake Pupuke.

The quarry is filled with water and has a reported depth of up to 9 meters.

The youth jumped from a high bank into the water below at the quarry.

He surfaced briefly before disappearing after having difficulties in the water.

Emergency services were called.

A three member Police dive team was flown from Wellington last night. They started searching the quarry at around 11.00 pm finishing sometime after 1.00am.

Today the underwater search recommenced just after 09.00am. At around 10.30am the body of Raphael ALUALU of Samoan descent aged 16 years from Mt Roskill was recovered at the bottom of the quarry lake.

There were a number of wittnesses to the incident who have been spoken to by police at the time and enquiries are continuing as to circumstances arround the death.

Police are in close contact with the family of the missing youth and and arrangements have been made for a Samoan Priest to attend the scene with family memebers.

Local Komatua will also attend the area sometime later on.